Oberöfflingen offers several ways to explore local history: the present-day church with its older predecessor chapel, crosses from different centuries, and traces of former ownership. The Laufeld nature trail is a short circular route; the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route runs for 58.5 kilometres from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues along a disused railway line. A report from April 2025 adds the traditional horse blessing in Oberöfflingen to these themes.

Local history in names and ownership records

Karlmann gave Oberöfflingen to Echternach Abbey; Charlemagne confirmed the donation. In 1339, Heince van Uffingen received a large estate in Oberöfflingen as a fief. The old name Ufflingen appears on a seal impression of Heinrich von Ufflingen dating from 1451. These references trace a path from a donation to a fief and then to an early form of the name.

In Manderscheid accounts from the 17th and 18th centuries, the historic Oberöfflingen estate was recorded in two halves. According to tradition, the Oberöfflingen manor houses burned down around 1800. Houses numbered 13 to 15 were later built on the former manor estate; these houses bore the house name “Junker”.

Church and historic crosses

The present-day church in Oberöfflingen was built in 1854 on the site of a chapel dating from 1669. Some wooden figures from the former chapel, dating from the late 18th century, have been preserved. The building and its furnishings therefore date from different periods: the church is newer than the surviving figures.

A Baroque wayside cross at the water reservoir south of Oberöfflingen is dated 1760. Also south of the village, a pillar cross dating from 1840 stands in the Gladbach Forest. Southeast of Oberöfflingen, a Baroque shaft cross from the 18th century stands in the Sauerberg Forest. In the Gladbach Valley southeast of the village, another shaft cross is dated 1814; a late Gothic niche cross from the 16th or 17th century is also located there. North of Oberöfflingen, toward Laufeld, there is a wayside chapel with a Pietà relief dating from the 18th or 19th century.

Nature trail, cycling route and horse blessing

The Laufeld nature trail is a short circular route, suitable for a relaxing family walk. Information boards explain the forests, animals and plants. The trail also includes a forest playground and a woodland retention area that expands an existing wetland. As trail conditions may change temporarily, check them before your visit.

A longer cycling option is the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route: it runs for 58.5 kilometres from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues along a disused railway line. Unlike the short circular route, this trail has two named endpoints and covers a different distance.

A report dated 16 April 2025 describes the traditional horse blessing in Oberöfflingen, held under the motto “St. Mauritius – Patron of Horses”. The event includes an open-air Mass; dogs and other visitors are blessed alongside the horses. If you would like to include the horse blessing in your travel plans, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Flußbach, Immert, Traben-Trarbach, Morbach, Salmtal, Thalfang Am Erbeskopf, Dierscheid, Manderscheid.

Go to the main travel overview: Bernkastel-Wittlich.